Cinema VinesActress Sara Ali Khan’s trip to the Kedarnath Temple on October 25 has sparked a religious debate after Uttar Pradesh‑based Islamic cleric Maulana Mufti Shahabuddin Razvi Barelvi issued a fatwa condemning her participation in the shrine’s rituals. The cleric stated that Islamic Sharia prohibits Muslims from engaging in practices associated with another faith, describing the actress’s actions as “impermissible and haram” and urging her to repent before Allah.
According to media reports, Khan arrived at Kedarnath by helicopter and joined devotees in the queue for darshan. Video footage shows her standing in line, offering prayers with folded hands, and taking part in the temple’s puja and aarti. She also visited the nearby Bhukunt Bhairav Temple, all amid cold weather that prompted some women devotees to present her with a shawl for warmth.
The controversy highlights the Badrinath‑Kedarnath Temple Committee’s rules for non‑Hindu visitors. The committee requires such devotees to submit an affidavit before visiting. BKTC CEO Sohan Singh Rangar confirmed that Khan’s team had filed the necessary affidavit prior to the trip, as reported by News18.
Khan’s connection to Kedarnath extends beyond the recent visit; she made her Bollywood debut with the 2018 film “Kedarnath,” which starred the late Sushant Singh Rajput, and has returned to the shrine on several occasions since then. The fatwa, while reflecting the cleric’s personal stance, is not a universal view shared by all Muslims or Islamic scholars.
